NHS Direct

An online or telephone service to get advice on symptoms of illness or minor ailments and where to go for help.
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
Telephone

Pharmacies

A chemist store is often referred to as a pharmacy. As well as being able to buy a range of medicines for minor ailments, you can have a GP prescription fulfilled at a pharmacy. The staff are also able to offer health care advice for non-urgent conditions. 

Minor Injury Units

Minor Injuries Units are for less serious injuries, such as deep cuts, eye injuries, broken bones, severe sprains, minor head injuries, minor burns and scalds. Many people go to Accident and Emergency (A&E) when they could be treated just as well and probably quicker at a Minor Injuries Unit. In Accident and Emergency the staff must give priority to serious and life-threatening conditions, so if you go there with a minor injury you may have to wait longer to be seen. It is better to go to a Minor Injuries Unit if there is one locally. You don't need an appointment to visit a Minor Injuries Unit. They are run by a team of highly qualified nurse practitioners with a lot of experience and expertise in the treatment of minor injuries.
 
Details of units:

Abingdon- Care Centre, Abingdon Hospital, Marcham Road, Abingdon, . Tel: . Open 7 days a week, 10:00 - 22:30 hrs

Henley- Out Patients Dept, Townlands Hospital, York Road, Henley on Thames
. Tel: Open 7 days a week, 09:00 - 20:00 hrs

Witney- Out Patients Dept, Witney Hospital, Welch Way, Witney,      Tel: /8. Open 7 days a week, 10:00 - 22:30 hrs
 
First Aid Units

First Aid Units do not have X-Ray support.  It is best to call prior to attending if in doubt or concerned that an X-Ray may be required.

Bicester- Bicester Community Hospital, Kings End, Bicester,
Tel: (Please phone prior to attending)
Weekdays, 18.00 - 23.00
Weekends and Bank Holidays 08:30 - 23:.00

Chipping Norton- a 6 month pilot first aid service will be provided in the evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays. The pilot will start in April 2011. An Emergency Care Practitioner (ECP) will be based at the new hospital site and will treat patients with minor problems who walk in on weekday evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays.

Wallingford- Wallingford Hospital, Reading Road, Wallingford,
Tel:
Monday-Friday (excluding bank holidays) 08.30-18.30. You do not need to make an appointment, the first aid unit is a drop-in-service.

Accident and Emergency

For life threatening conditions, call 999 - Accident & Emergency (A&E). You should only attend Emergency Departments (A&E) if you are very badly hurt or if you become very seriously ill (life-threatening). This would include life threatening choking; chest pain; blacking out; severe blood loss or severe breathing difficulty. There are Emergency Departments at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, the Horton General Hospital in Banbury and the Royal Berskhire Hospital in Reading